First Baptism. First Hamburger.

Aloha Fam Friends.

Ok, I'll start with some good news... I had my first baptism this Saturday! It was great. We had planned on having more than 1 baptism, but it didn't work out. It's all good though. We´ll keep working with the others and get some more baptisms in August!  So this week we had splits. I went with Elder Pizarro. He's from Chile. We were in my area, so it was my job to find all the places and not get us lost! I did all right though, wasn't too bad haha. I ate my first hamburger here in Colombia at a little shack with an investigator. Sketchy! It actually wasn't too bad!  So this week, Elder Cartes was in the dentists office in Cali almost every moring from 8 to 12 because he had some problems with cavities and stuff. He wasn't able to talk on the phone much because his mouth hurt pretty bad! Soo that means that the talking on the cell phone dutys went to me. Stressful! Talking in spanish in person is hard, but on the phone it's even harder! It's all good though. I survived haha. Me and Elder Cartes have a game of slug bug going. I taught him how to play. Mistake. Haha I'm defiantly losing. I'm too busy always thinking about Spanish and words to pay attention to the cars, so I always get punched! I get him occasionaly though. Oh some crazy guy was talking to me at the bus station. He asked me all sorts of weird questions and then scribbled out a note for me to go get a urine sample and blood test. haha Alright... thank you sir. I'm out of time, but I hope you all have a good week. Nos vemos!

Elder Dean

 I ran out of black socks. Had to wear white ones . I probably looked like a goof!

Just A Normal Day In Colombia.

Family and friends.

Shoot! I really don't have any time to write this week! Bummer. Anyway, I'll make it short. So this week was pretty good. We have a baptism service this Saturday, so pray all goes well with that. I have a funny story to tell. So I was talking with a member family, and we were talking about the color of my skin! White, of course. Anyway, long story short, the sister asked me if I was a big racist in my country? I thought she asked if there are different types of races in my country. So I answered, " Yes of course, Sister. " Embarrasing. She thinks I'm a racist. Haha. Plenty of embarrasing storys with the Spanish every day. Good stuff. I cooked french toast for a investigator because she wanted me to cook the food of my country. Haha! So I cooked french toast, cause that's like one of the only things I know how, and it's easy :) Played soccer today for p-day. I'm horrible. Haha. It's all good though, I'm sure I'll get better at soccer. We play like every p-day. Heard my first gun shots! Sweet! Haha. About 30 or 40 feet away. BANG. BANG. BANG. Yikes! Saw a drug deal, too. I've never seen so much money.... Sketchy!! HA It's all good though, just a normal day in Colombia no? I'll try to send some pics next week. Sorry this email stinks. I don't have much time. Anyway, love you all. Talk to you later.

Elder Dean

Updates From Colombia.

Fam. Friends. What's up.

 

So this week was pretty good. Earlier this week a member in the ward acutually took me and Elder Cartes out to lunch. She's the wife of the bishop, and they are pretty well off with money. She drove us to the nice part of our area. (Our area has a nice part and a realllly ghetto part. I do 90 percent of my teaching and time in the ghetto part.) She took us to Pricemart. Like What??? I felt like I was in the U.S again. Just like Costco. We ate at the food court there. I was in heavan. Pizza. Hot dogs. Ice Cream. Sprite. Oh my goodness, just like somewhere at home. Anyway, that was great. So our area is one of the biggest areas in the mission. And guess what. It's just me and Elder Cartes in the area. We walk toooonnnns. I'm also the only gringo in my zone. We have like 10 missionaries in the zone, I think, and we had a zone meeting this week, and I'm the only gringo! 

 

So me and Elder Cartes are trying hard to have a baptismal service the 27th of July. Working hard for that date. Hope everything goes as planned, which doesn't happen much here in Colombia. Haha. Anyway, this Sunday I was called up to talk...Without preparation! Just randomly, "Ahora vamos a escuchar a Elder Dean" What!? Crap. Haha I got up there and rambled on for like 5 or 10 minutes, probably just sounding like an idiot. Hope somebody understood something. Hahaha. Elder Cartes said he understood everything, but he's probably just being nice. Anyway, met a guy from Provo at church. He was just visiting with his wife, cause his wife is from Colombia. I think his last name was Starling. It was nice to speak in English for 10 min. Anyway, love you all and I hope you all have a good week. Probably sweating in that heat in Provo, but don't worry I'm dying of heat here in Colombia, too! Haha. Talk to you all next week.

Elder Dean

Pictures.

From the Museo de Oro, Bogota Colombia

Cristo Rey - overlooking Bogota

Bogota, Colombia

Catholic church overlooking Bogota

Mountains of Bogota

Cali, Colombia

Elder Dean, Cali Colombia

Mailing Instructions.

If anyone is sending letters and/or packages to Elder Dean, here are some mailing instructions from the mission home.  He could use all the love, encouragement, and treats from his home country that he can get!

The best mailing address is:  
 
Elder Dean
Colombia Cali Mission
Avenida 2 Oeste #10-130  Oficina 201
Edificio Tempo
Barrio Santa Rita
Cali, Valle, COLOMBIA
 
If you ship a package with a private courier, you will need this phone number 57 2-892-1709
This is the mission office address. You may mail letters and packages to this address.
 
To mail a letter of normal size and weight it costs 98 cents to mail it here.
 
You can use the church pouch mail for letters at the following address:
 
Elder Dean
Colombia Cali Mission
POB 30150
Salt Lake City, UT  84130-0150
 
Pouch Mail Instructions:  To prevent possible fines, only postcards and letters that are single sheet, folded into three-panels, and taped at the top only (no envelopes) may be sent through the pouch.  Packages cannot be sent through pouch mail.
 
I think using US Mail is less expensive and just fine...I would NOT use their priority shipping as it seems to be more expensive.
 
Here are some hints we have learned about the mail system to/from Colombia:
 
It is better to send things in padded envelopes rather than boxes.  
If the packages weigh less than 2 kilos (about 4 lbs) they usually arrive without the missionary having to pay a fee to get it out of customs.
You should declare ANY package at a value LESS than about $20 to also avoid paying a customs fee.
Most letters and packages are taking about 14 or 15 days to arrive.
 
Our missionaries have to PAY ON TOP of what you have paid to ship...just to receive the package... IF it is too heavy or worth a lot.  It is better to send 2 envelopes than to pay a lot and send a big box.
 
Mail leaving Colombia for the USA is VERY VERY expensive.

Once a package arrives in the office it can take up to a month to get it out to the missionary as we have to wait until we can get it to the zone leaders at a conference or take it when we are traveling.  
 
If you want to send something for Christmas, plan accordingly for the time it might take and mark the package FOR CHRISTMAS.

Please remember that many of his companions will be Latins who may never hear from home or receive packages...if you want to include a little something for the companion it is always a kind gesture.

Elder Dean in Cali

Well, I'm in Cali... It's HOT.

Hey Everybody. So my first week in the field ... Pretty crazy stuff! I'm really in the heart of everything now, that's for sure: people, motorcycles, tons of stray dogs, dirty streets, poverty everywhere, and spanish music blasting all the time. Haha good stuff! So my trainer is from Chile - Elder Cartes. He's a pretty good guy, and knows what he's doing. The members here a pretty cool, too. Even though I don't really speak much, they are loving anyway. So Elder Cartes and I found about 12 new people to teach this week. We have 3 people with a baptism date for the 27 of July, so I'll let you all know how that goes. Our apartment is pretty small. It's just me and Cartes in a garage apartment. I'm learning Spanish more and more each day, but pretty slow- not gonna lie! My area is Limonar, in zone Farallonas. I'm still in Cali pretty much, about 10 minutes out. Spanish is nuts that's for sure! Anyway, I hope you all have a good week this week. I'll try to send some photos of Bogota and a few from here in Cali as well! Love you all. Nos Vemos.

Elder Dean

 

 Elder Dean and Elder Cartes

 Elder Dean and President and Sister Prince